After conceding, Kimimaro turned and walked away without hesitation.
Both of them had exceptionally powerful bodies: one possessed a Sage Body fused with First Hokage cells, while the other had a Sage Body with Shikotsumyaku. So, though they had made quite a commotion in the woods, neither had been incapacitated.
In fact,
Kimimaro still had plenty of trump cards up his sleeve.
For instance, he hadn't pushed his Shikotsumyaku to its limits during the match. He hadn't used many of its most devastating techniques.
Also, the secret scroll for the Eight Gates that he'd obtained from Orochimaru was why he had been training in the technique. He hadn't used the Eight Gates during this match, either.
Even so, his performance had more than lived up to his reputation as one of the Ninja Academy's Four Geniuses. That was why he'd conceded so decisively.
In the treetops not far away,
Kakashi shook his head. "I didn't expect even Kimimaro to lose!"
Jiraiya chuckled. "That boy from the Kaguya Clan must still have something up his sleeve."
With her arms folded across her chest, Tsunade said casually, "So what? Don't forget, Yakumo hasn't gone all out, either!"
Jiraiya fell silent.
Yakumo's use of the Red Dragon Eye and her control over the First Hokage cells were both still at a very basic level. That meant she had plenty of trump cards of her own.
For example, if she simply loosened her control over the First Hokage cells inside her, she could immediately draw on their power to use Wood Release.
So, as Tsunade had said, whatever other trump cards Kimimaro had been holding back, his loss was no injustice.
Outside the woods,
When Sasuke and Neji saw Kimimaro emerge first, they both assumed he had won. Their expressions grew complicated.
Sasuke went